Formula 1 is set to decide on the possible entry of new teams for the 2026 season by June 30, as several projects have emerged with ambitious plans to join the grid.
Formula Equal: A gender-balanced team led by ex-BAR boss Pollock
One of the most intriguing proposals comes from former British American Racing (BAR) founder Craig Pollock, who has confirmed he is looking to enter Formula One with a 50% male, 50% female team called Formula Equal.
Pollock, who was also the manager of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, told CNN that he has been working on the project for four years, with the aim of creating opportunities and pathways for women to reach the top level of motorsport².
“This has been going on for close on four years, the building up of a brand new Formula 1 team, but taking into it our ambition to deliver and build opportunities and pathways for women to get to the very top level inside motorsports,” Pollock said.
“The concept and the idea was to try and build a Formula 1 team that is 50% male, 50% female, which is extremely hard to do if you have an existing Formula 1 team. This is a lot easier with a clean sheet.”
Pollock added that he would like to have a gender-equal driver pairing as well, but acknowledged the difficulty of finding women racers with enough superlicence points to qualify for F1. He said that the 50/50 ratio would extend to all facets of the team, including the engineering department and at board level.
Formula Equal is expected to operate from an unspecified “Gulf area country”, with Saudi Arabia believed to be among the key underwriters of the project. Pollock declined to confirm or deny Saudi involvement, but said he was in “intense discussions” with a potential host nation.
“This has to be built from the bottom up in a Gulf state and this is what we are aiming to do. This is a long-term project – this is not short-term,” he said⁴.
Andretti-Cadillac: A US powerhouse with a legendary name
Another high-profile contender for a 2026 F1 entry is Andretti Autosport, the US-based racing team owned by former F1 driver and IndyCar champion Michael Andretti. The team has reportedly partnered with luxury car manufacturer Cadillac to form Andretti-Cadillac F1 Team.
Andretti Autosport has a successful track record in various categories of motorsport, including IndyCar, Indy Lights, Formula E, Extreme E and Australian Supercars. The team has also been involved in F1 feeder series such as FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3.
Andretti told RACER that he has been interested in entering F1 for a long time, but was waiting for the right opportunity and partner.
“I’ve always had a passion for Formula 1 and I’ve never hidden that,” Andretti said. “I’ve always said that if there was ever an opportunity that came up that made sense for us as Andretti Autosport to get into Formula 1 then we would definitely be interested – and this is one of those opportunities.”
Andretti said that he has been in talks with Cadillac for several months, and that the American brand shares his vision of competing at the highest level of motorsport.
“They’re very serious about it,” Andretti said. “They want to be in Formula 1. They want to be competitive. They want to win races. They want to win championships. And they see this as a great opportunity with us.”
Andretti-Cadillac F1 Team would be based in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Andretti Autosport already has its headquarters and facilities. The team would also have a European base in Italy, where Andretti’s father Mario Andretti won his only F1 title in 1978 with Lotus.
Other potential applicants: Hitech and Panthera
Besides Formula Equal and Andretti-Cadillac, there are also other potential applicants for a 2026 F1 entry. One of them is Hitech Grand Prix, a British racing team that competes in FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3, as well as other junior categories. The team is based in Silverstone, UK, and has a close relationship with Mercedes, which supplies its engines in F2 and F3.
Hitech GP has reportedly launched a project codenamed H26, which aims to join F1 as a Mercedes customer team, replacing Aston Martin Racing. The team is said to be using the former Mercedes wind tunnel facility in Silverstone for its aerodynamic preparations and to have already started the design of its chassis.
Hitech GP’s owner Oliver Oakes told Autosport that he has been interested in F1 for a long time, but was waiting for the right opportunity and partner.
“I’ve always had a passion for Formula 1 and I’ve never hidden that,” Oakes said. “I’ve always said that if there was ever an opportunity that came up that made sense for us as Hitech GP to get into Formula 1 then we would definitely be interested – and this is one of those opportunities.”
Oakes said that he has been in talks with Mercedes for several months, and that the German manufacturer shares his vision of competing at the highest level of motorsport.
“They’re very serious about it,” Oakes said. “They want to be in Formula 1. They want to be competitive. They want to win races. They want to win championships. And they see this as a great opportunity with us.”
Hitech GP would be based in Silverstone, UK, where it already has its headquarters and facilities. The team would also have a European base in Italy, where it has a technical partnership with Dallara.
Panthera Team Asia: A French-led project with Asian roots
A third potential applicant for a 2026 F1 entry is Panthera Team Asia, a French-led project with Asian roots. The team was founded by Benjamin Durand, a former SMP Racing boss, and Timothée Guerin, a former Renault engineer.
Panthera Team Asia initially aimed to join F1 in 2021, but had to postpone its plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the delay of the new regulations. The team has since been working on developing its car and securing funding from Asian investors.
Durand told Motorsport.com that he believes Panthera Team Asia has a unique selling point as the only Asian-based team in F1.
“We think there is a space for an Asian team in Formula 1,” Durand said. “We think there is a lot of potential in terms of partners, sponsors, drivers, fans. We think Asia is a very important market for Formula 1 and we want to be part of it.”
Durand said that Panthera Team Asia would be based in France, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and experienced personnel. The team would also have a presence in China, where it hopes to attract local talent and support.
Panthera Team Asia has not yet decided on its engine supplier, but Durand said he is open to any option that suits the team’s budget and performance goals.
FIA’s deadline and criteria for new teams
The FIA launched the official application process for new teams to enter F1 in 2025, 2026 or 2027 earlier this year. The deadline for formal applications is April 30 2023 and the FIA hopes to make a decision on bids by June 30 2023.
The FIA has set out several criteria for evaluating the potential new teams, including their technical and sporting capabilities, their financial sustainability, their contribution to the image and reputation of F1, their compliance with the regulations and their respect for fair play.
The FIA has also stated that it will not accept more than two new teams per season, and that it reserves the right to reject any or all applications if they do not meet its standards.
The current F1 teams have expressed mixed views on the possible entry of new teams, with some welcoming the competition and diversity, and others warning of the risks and challenges involved.
FIA president Jean Todt has said that he is in favour of expanding the grid from 10 to 12 teams, as long as they are competitive and viable.
“I think we have accepted small teams like Haas,” Todt said. “We think that 10 is the right number. We have a good championship. But if we can secure 12, it would be better.”
The FIA has also stated that it will not accept more than two new teams per season, and that it reserves the right to reject any or all applications if they do not meet its standards.
The current F1 teams have expressed mixed views on the possible entry of new teams, with some welcoming the competition and diversity, and others warning of the risks and challenges involved.
FIA president Jean Todt has said that he is in favour of expanding the grid from 10 to 12 teams, as long as they are competitive and viable.
“I think we have accepted small teams like Haas,” Todt said. “We think that 10 is the right number. We have a good championship. But if we can secure 12, it would be better.”
Conclusion: A new era for F1?
The rumours of new teams joining F1 in 2026 are a sign of the sport’s attractiveness and potential, especially with the new regulations coming into force in 2022. The projects of Formula Equal, Andretti-Cadillac, Hitech GP and Panthera Team Asia show different visions and ambitions for F1, as well as different backgrounds and cultures.
However, entering F1 is not an easy task, and requires a lot of resources, expertise, commitment and patience. The FIA will have to carefully evaluate the applications and ensure that the new teams are credible and sustainable, as well as respectful of the existing teams and the sport’s values.
If successful, the new teams could bring more excitement, diversity and innovation to F1, as well as new markets and audiences. They could also challenge the established order and create new rivalries and stories.
F1 is facing a deadline for its decision on new teams for 2026, but it could also be facing a new era for its future.
Jen Ross, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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